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Looking for trains/rolling stock


Danny-1237070

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Hi Danny, welcome to the obsession, sorry hobby!

Generally there are a lot of respectable shops like Hattons, Rails, Colletts, Clarks and many more who sell 'good, used' locomotives and rolling stock.

Ebay has 10's of 1,000's of the same.

I would confirm the Era you're interested in, then the 'quality' - Super Detail (more detailed, often with lighting in coaches, more fragile, more expensive) or Railroad (less detailed, more robust, cheaper).

Are you considering Industrial (small shunters, tank engines), mainline passenger, mainline freight - larger locomotives.

One thing, the larger the radius curves you can fit in for the larger locomotives, the better - 2nd radius is stated as a minimum for the larger locomotives, but I would routinely go higher than that if/where possible.

Power supply - read the many threads on this!

Do you wish to stay DC, or go digital or DCC as they call it? This adds a lot of interest / flexibility, and with it comes .... £££££ !!

Do you want sound, or not? It can be very interesting, or frustrating / annoying!

A few thoughts.

Al.

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Just to echo what Bulliedboy says, model exhibitions usually have a range of trade stalls selling new and used items. It is well worth checking toy and train fairs too - usually a huge range of second hand items on offer. Most of my stock comes from such events. A google search for "toy and train fairs" will show up any in your area. I work on a budget of £3.50 per wagon and £4.50 per carriage but this is for the purchase of bits and pieces to cobble into finished items. For complete items you may have to spend 2 or 3 times that, depending on your particular wants. Most traders will happily haggle over prices. Unfortunately the current Covid situation has led to cancellations but I would expect the fairs to pick up gain in the Spring, if you can wait that long.

Good hunting.

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I would echo what has been said, especially the value Railroad rolling stock, which most of mine are, I particularly like the brightly coloured 2 axle tankers, which advertise the fuel company, and don't limit you to a specific railway company. Huge choice on the internet , but often postage adds a bargain ruining 50% , so try emailing local model clubs, and shops maybe pop down or they my have lists of items for sale that they could send you. Don't rush, the hunt is half the fun.

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I agree with all the other comments.

Don't forget to look at older rolling stock there is nothing wrong with the 20 year old plus rolling stock it might not be as detailed but it is more affordable for someone just starting out in the wonderful hobby.

I would also add the older locomotives are more robust and home repairable than todays complex offerings.

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Your discussion starter refers only to rolling stock but I have to agree with Tony57 about older locos. Most of mine are cobbled together from bits dating back anything up to 65 years but thay run quietly, are controllable down to a crawl and will be running long after I am gone. Average cost to date is £8.00 each (analogue, of course). The costs given in this and my previous post include re-wheeling where necessary with decent wheelsets and fitting scew or threelink couplings - the advantage of cobbling stuff together from older bits and pieces is that you can add as much or as little detail as you want.

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Like others here have mentioned I have found train and toy shows good places to find cheaper items. Also a good hobby shop can be a great source for second hand model rail equipment, especially as they people who work there get to know you and what you are looking for.

I have bought a number of things off the auction sites. Typing Hornby OO or Lima OO etc will turn up all manner of model railway items. The thing to be sure of with such sites is sticking to the budget and not getting into bidding wars which can result in paying higher prices.

I am currently watching a Lima Class 59 for about 11 pounds. However, I don't know if I will bid on it, as they want another 11 pounds for shipping and I already have 3 similar class 66s.

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I get some idea of what mix of stock I should use by looking at old photographs either in books or on the net, I then try to match up the nearest model I can find. This si particularly true of mixed freight trains during the steam era.

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